FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 14, 2021

Las Vegas, NV – The Southern Nevada Health District today confirmed the state’s first case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant.

The Southern Nevada Public Health Laboratory tested the specimen and is continuing to provide genome sequencing for positive COVID-19 cases to determine the presence of variants in the community.

The individual who tested positive is a fully-vaccinated female in her mid-20s. She has not received a booster dose of vaccine and the case is still being investigated at this time.

“We knew that it was only a matter of time that we would identify the Omicron variant in Southern Nevada,” said Dr. Fermin Leguen, District Health Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District. “People can protect themselves from all variants of the COVID-19 virus by getting fully vaccinated and getting a booster when they are eligible, wearing a mask in public indoor settings, regardless of their vaccination status, and staying home and getting tested if they are sick.”

Dr. Leguen also reminds people who have symptoms or who test positive for COVID-19 to follow self-isolation and quarantine guidance to ensure that they do not infect others. Frequent handwashing and getting a flu vaccine are also recommended to help keep people healthier this holiday season.

“The Omicron variant in Nevada is a reminder to all those who have not completed their COVID-19 vaccination series, that vaccination can protect against serious illness,” said Nevada State Epidemiologist Melissa Peek-Bullock. “As the weather gets cold and we celebrate the holidays with family and friends it is imperative that we all continue to take this virus seriously and maintain the mitigation measures that we know work.”

On Nov. 26, 2021, the World Health Organization classified a new COVID-19 variant as a variant of concern and named it Omicron.

New variants develop when the virus can replicate well and travel from person to person and vaccination plays a key role in reducing the rate of new variants. Scientists are gathering data about the variant and the State continues to urge Nevadans to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.

Although the Omicron variant has been identified more widely in the United States, the Delta variant remains the dominant variant circulating in the United States and Clark County. Additional information about the Omicron variant is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website Omicron Variant: What You Need To Know.

Vaccination and booster shots still offer the best protection against COVID-19. Health officials remind Nevadans that everyone age 5 and older should get vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, everyone from the age of 16 and older are urged to get their booster dose when they are eligible (6 months after receiving their Pfizer or Moderna shots, or 2 months after receiving their Johnson & Johnson shot).

For more information on vaccination go to NVCOVIDFighter.org or call 800-401-0946.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.